The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs? (OES) Office of Science and Technology Cooperation at the Department of State announces the Request for Applications (RFA) for the Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology (BOOST) program. This program aims to advance the Bureau?s mission to increase the role that science, technology, and innovation play in societies across the world by building capacity for young scientists to perform innovative research, to connect with the international scientific community, and to apply their technical training in addressing key global challenges and in advancing economic growth. With FY 2011 funding, OES will fund three awards for projects that train young scientists to build science and technology capacity to advance research outcomes, to create market-ready technologies, and/or to inform policymaking through scientific research. Proposed projects should deliver professional development activities for early career scientists (18 to 30 years old). Activities may be implemented in conjunction with technical training but must focus on strengthening soft skills, such as presentation style and partnership building. Proposals should emphasize institution-level capacity building that enables local organizations to sustain the outlined training and should also address gender equality to empower men and women participation in science and technology, and activities should focus on one of two BOOST program areas. At least one grant will be awarded in each of the focus areas.BOOST Program Focus Areas1. Professional Skills Development: Proposals in this focus area will empower young scientists to obtain knowledge-sector employment and to conduct the high-level research that will ultimately improve quality of life, enhance science-based decision making, and facilitate economic growth. Potential activity areas could include establishing professional skills development training programs, connecting young researchers with peers and mentors from the global scientific community, or building technical and non-technical skills. Project outcomes may include, but are not limited to, enhanced data collection and analysis, improved authorship and grantsmanship, increased oral presentation skills, and expanded access to resources. These outcomes will lead to increased publications, enhanced visibility within the scientific community, and expanded international scientific cooperation. Preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate commitment to build and sustain institutio nal capacity to continue the outlined activities.2. Technology Commercialization: Proposals in this focus area will enhance individual and institutional capacity to translate innovative research findings into new products and companies. Potential activity areas might include instituting innovation and entrepreneurship education opportunities for young scientists, establishing processes to identify research market-potential, or building linkages and partnership opportunities between universities and private-sector companies. Project outcomes may include the commercialization of new technologies, the establishment of technology transfer programs, and building institutional capacity to assess the market value of scientific research.Proposals must focus activities in at least one of the following countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey. Preference will be given to proposals that have national or regional scale through digital platforms, exchange programs through university partnerships, or other means of expanding participation. Proposals should demonstrate a keen understanding and expertise of scientific education and research capacity in the proposed country(ies) of engagement and lay out defined methodologies and activities to address existing gaps and create sustainable change.Three grants, not to exceed 198,000 U.S. Dollars (USD) each in FY 2011 Economic Support Funds (ESF), will be awarded for training programs that build science and technology capacity in young scientists or technology commercialization in Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, or Turkey. The initial period of performance will be for 18 months. Please carefully read the entire solicitation package before submitting an application, and follow the steps immediately in order to submit before the deadline. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria and do not contain all of required information will not be considered. Thank you for your interest in this grant opportunity. As noted in the Proposal Submission Instructions, in order for your application to be fully processed, your organization must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). If your organization does not already have a registration number, or if your registration number is due to expire, please be advised that the CCR system will be down for routine maintenance from May 23 May 29, 2012 please note that applications for this opportunity are due during this time, on May 24 by 5:00 pm EDT. In order to avoid delays processing your organizations application, we encourage you to submit your CCR registration early. If you are unable to do so, please submit your application via email to both (
[email protected]) and (
[email protected]). Note that email submissions are not encouraged, and should only be used in the event that your CCR registration cannot be finalized as a result of this routine maintenance.